Philippines Urges China to De-escalate Tensions After Air Incident over Scarborough Shoal

The Philippines is urging China to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea following a recent dangerous incident. Despite this, Manila and Beijing have reached a provisional arrangement on resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal, aiming to ease tensions in the disputed waters.

The Philippines plans to protest China's maneuvers, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr denouncing the actions as 'unjustified, illegal, and reckless.' Analysts suggest that Manila must establish clear rules of engagement and bolster its air force capabilities to manage potential conflicts.

However, experts do not believe the country will invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States to avoid military escalation. This incident highlights the need for a shift in the Philippines' response in the South China Sea, with a focus on establishing clear rules of engagement and modernizing its military capabilities.